Last expanding machine



March 2?, 1951 J. s. KAMBQRHAN LAST EXPANDING- MACHINE l 254mg@ 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1946 l l l l Mew/7 f uw@ MQ/2m Magreb 27, E951 J. s. KAMBQRHAN LAST EXPANDING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 29, 1946 ga) J a? (gj, QJ;

m... a M" s vi/f Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED S'STATELS ICE l LAST EXPANDING MACHINE Jav l1 ,S-.Kwmborian, lWest Newtqm-Mass- Application November 2951946, vSell'lial'iNo'."37135183 Y (el. laf- 9` Claims. 1

This `invention.Y pertainsv to. shoe .:lastng ap- Lparatus and more especially to a.. last expanding 'f Amachine for a use 1 in Vapplying stress to.: the assembled .upper andsock lininguniteof. aiorceblasted-shoe. by relative movementof .the fore- -=part-and heel portions. ofr a longitudinally, .ex-

' pansible last.

In the manufacture :of force-lasted, California, vor, platform type fshoesthe margin of the upper fis-permanently secured to the-v 'edge.portion of the sock lining or insole beforeintroduction of -the last, .and the .shaping of :the upper is ac- -lcomplishedby forcing the lastintoftheassembled upper and sock. lining. 'The introductonof the f conventional. `hingedlast. into such an Vassembly is :diicult and :often results in bursting.; thev up- ;.per at. its rear. seam. For this reason it. is.quite t common ,to kuse an undersized.last but thisfneces vrsarilygmeans that.; thevfupper'. is never. subjected to properr lasting 'stresszand; is not .accurately= '.shaped. l. To avoidy this difoultmasdescribed in 'f.myfU. S. Patent No. 2,427,354 granted .September f 16,1' T1947,l a-.longitudinally expansible lastmay =be employed :comprising independent.- forepart and heel portions which mayobeldisposed in juxtaposed relation.(preparatory` to.; the introy-' duction of the last intofthe. assembled. upper and sock lining) yand then separated. (after fthe lastl rhas-:beenr slipped: into .fthe upper). so as .Y to

increasel theeflectivelength of. the last. 1 In this Away-the last` may-beI introducedvwhile it isA of minimumv length-and then, in .expanding it toits full predetermined length,;.theV upper. is properly Al-'stressed and shaped. -Preferably releasablelocking-orretaining :means is :provided inforder to f hold the lastex'pandedaslong as maybedesired. -The forepartlfand.` heel lportionsof suchwan -expansible last, after it has been `.introduced .into --theassembled sock liningJ and1-upper;-may.be

- moved apart,- foreexample by introducing a suit-,

y-duly elongated as itl isthat the last besuftleiently elongated tof insure properAL stressing.; of:V theiup- 'l per. 'To' -fa'cilitate--f the separation vof the .-.last parts it has been proposedv ito iprovide each. of l the-last parts-with afsoclzet-.or` spindle-receiving f hole designed .to receiver separable .spindles or.,

other fappliances .by-A means of. fwhichf the last 1.members-.may:be forced-apart.

iThe i .obj eetiofithel present `.invention is;.to.pro

pi; vide;.;improv ed .f apparatus; including .snella-isop- 1.1:; arable spindles togetherwitlnmeansiwherebmsaid spindles may-be relatively ,separated t0 ag.. Dres determined --extent and in langexpeditious, vand .readyI way. further object is to provide a simple ylastexpanding apparatus operable, for example, by the workers foot and havingpro- .vision for adjusting theI eiective spacing-of the socket-,engaging elements :whereby themchine maybe/adaptedgfor use* withlasts. of diieijent sizes Crain i the, lasting offf materials offdifferent types. A further obj ectv` fof; the.; invention is l to provideA last-.expanding lapparatus, so designed. as

^ to vpermit the ready removal of the last -from z the rexpanding, mechanism f. afterqgthe last has fbeen -expanded and While. it.- Ais held, in; its viully expanded 'condition. 1 i Other and; iurther` objects and advantagesv -of thefinvention will. be, `pointed out in:` the following more Adetailed vdescription and bygreference ,to the,y accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is aplan viewlofixtheaimproved apparatus;

Fig.12 is, a Vertical sectionl substantially-` .on

the line 2;-2 of Fig.11f Wth`eertain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary transverse lVertial section on the line 3 -3 of Fig, 2;

'Fig 4 is a'vtransverse vertical sectionV on--the Fig. 5 is a transverse Vertical section on the line 5- -5 of Fig.v 2;

Fig. 6 is aside ,eleYat0n, partly in V vertical sectionshowing an vexpansible last While inf` its vcontracted position,portions;of thespindles of ;the.=expanding machine ,being shownj Fig. 'l is a View similar` to Fig., 6 `but showing the last fully expanded; and

. Fig. 8 is atragmentary view, .similar to Fig. 6,

butshowingthe partspositioned. to permit removal of, the .expanded Ylast from the spindles.

, Referring to thefdrawingsfthe numeral l ,designatesthe machinebase. ori frame. y As here illustrated'thisbaseor frame is a hollowA casting, having the. bottcmmange v 2; v,designed to. re-

ceive bolts,-for seuringfthe, basel or frame; to ai suitable-bench. orsuitable support. .'Ijhebase gtudinalf.rectilinearl guidway 6, ingvitsunder .nf-fthe fspring;fbeingaconnectedft0 ;amadiustng vertical.

screw ID having threaded engagement with a bore in the rear end of the guide 4. A suitable screw I l, also having threaded engagement with a bore in the rear end of the guide 4, is arranged to engage an abutment surface I2 (Fig. l) at the rear end of the carriage, thereby to limit movement of the carriage to the rear, or to the right, as in Figs. l and 2.

The top wall of the guide 4 is provided with an elongate slot I3 (Fig. 2) at its forward portion, this slot extending to the forward end of the guide. Within the forward end of this slot there is arranged a spindle base I4 having a screw threaded stud I5 which engages a threaded bore in the forward end of the carriage 1. The spindle base carries the spindle Il)l designed to enter the rear socket of the expansible last. The axis of this spindle I6 is vertical, as here illustrated, and always remains vertical regardless of the position of the carriage.

A block I1 (Fig. 3) is secured to the under side of the front end of the carriage by bolts I3 and this block is provided with a horizontal threaded bore which receives an adjustable stop screw I9 (Fig. 2).

Near the forward part of the base or frame I and near the bottom of the latter there is arranged a transverse rod 2D (Fig. 2) which may be xed at its opposite ends in bosses 2| of the base. On this rod there is pivotally mounted a spindle support 22 which extends up through an elongate slot in the forward part of the top wall T of the base and which also extends up through an elongate slot 23a in the forward part of the carriage l. The upper end of this pivotal support 22 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the carriage when the support 22 is The upper end of the support 22 is provided with a screw threaded bore which receives a threaded stud 24 (Fig. 2) projecting downwardly from a spindle base 24a from which projects the spindle 25 which is designed to engage the forward spindle socket of the last. The spindles IB and 25 are preferably of the same height when the parts occupy the normal or initial position shown in Fig. 2, with their axes parallel and vertical. Preferably these spindles have smoothly curved upper surfaces to facilitate their entry into the last sockets.

A transverse shaft 26 is mounted to turn in bearings in the opposite side walls S of the base and the forward end of a lever 2 is clamped to the mid-portion of this shaft 2B. Spacing sleeves K (Fig. 5) may be provided to keep the lever 21 centrally located and in the vertical plane of the pivoted support 22. The upper end of a connecting rod 28 (Fig. 2) is pivotally secured to the right-hand upper end of the lever 2l and the lower end of this connecting rod 28 is connected to a foot-actuated treadle (not shown) by means of which the rear end of the lever 2'I may be swung downwardly. A coiled tension spring 29, or equivalent means, tends to hold the rear end of the lever 21 in its uppermost position.

A link 3G (preferably bifurcated to embrace thev pivoted support 22) is connected at its forward end to the support 22by a pivot member 3I and is connected at its rear end to the lever 21 by a pin 32. If desired the lever 21 may be connected to the shaft 25 in such a way as to provide for varying the effective length of the lever, for example, it may be mounted on the shaft 26 with an interposed eccentric 26E] which may be turned to different angular positionsy before the lever is clamped in place. As illustrated'the effective 4 length of the lever arm between the shaft 25 and the pin 32 is less than the effective length of the lever arm between the shaft 26 and the pivotal connection of the rod 28, so that the link 30 and *lever 2l provide a mechanical advantage such that the pressure on the treadle is multiplied in transmitting it to the swinging spindle support 22.

The apparatus described is designed for use with a last of the general type illustrated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8. This last comprises the heel portion 33 and the forepart portion 35i. A pair of rigid guide rods 35 and 36 is secured in the heel part 33, the guide rods being slidable in parallel bores in the forepart portion 34. The rod 35 is provided with a notch in its upper surface and a spring-pressed latch 4B, carried by the forepart portion 34, is designed to enter the notch in rod 36 when the last is fully expanded and thus lock the last parts at a xed distance apart. The last parts 33 and 34 are provided with the parallel spindle sockets 4I and 42, respectively.

When the apparatus above described is in the normal, initial, or last-receiving position the parts are as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 with the carriage 1 in its rearward position engaging the stop I I and with the spindle support 22 in its forward position engaging the stop I9. In this position, the spindles I5 and 25 arevertical and parallel and spaced apart so that they may readily be slipped into the sockets 4I and 42 of the fully contracted last, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Although the shoe upper is not herein illustrated, it will be understood that the assembled upper unit, comprising the unitedupper and sock lining or their equivalents, will have been drawn over the contracted last before the latter is expanded by the operation of the present apparatus.

Having mounted the last on the spindles, the operator places his footon the treadle, pulling down on the rod 28 and thus swinging the spindle support 22 rearwardly (Fig. 7). The spindle 25 is sufficiently loose in the socket 42 so that such rearward swing of the spindle support is possible without. clamping the spindle 25 in its socket. Since the maximum expansion of the last need not exceed one-half inch, or thereabouts, this action is readily possible. When the last has thus been expanded to the maximum predetermined extent, thereby subjecting the upper to the requisite lasting stress, the latch or holding member 49 snaps into the notch and thus locks the last in its fully extended position. Assuming that the shoe upper has been drawn over the'last while the latter was in the fully contracted position, as shown in Fig. 6, this expansion of the last places the upper under substantial longitudinal stress sufficient to conform the upper to the last. The stressed upper exerts tension tending to contract the last, but contraction is prevented by the latch 4I). The operator now removes his foot from the treadle and the spring 29 tends to raise the lever 2'! and thus to swing the Spindle support 22 forwardly. In the fully expanded position the axes of the spindles I6 and 25 are in upwardly divergent relationship, as shown in Fig. 7. It would be very dicult to pull the last from oi the spindles in this position of the parts, but when the operators foot is removed from the treadle the spindle 25 moves back toward the initial or normal position, as shown'in Fig. 2. Since the spindle sockets 4I and 42 are now at afiXed distance apart, the spindle I6 is moved forwardly from its normal fposition, the `carriage moving in a rectilinear path so that the spindle I6 remains vertical.

lWhile as/here illustr'atedthe spindle `25 islcar- *ried-by a'pivotal'support, it is contemplatedthat thesupport for the'spindle'25 may, ifdesirecL-be; *fmounted tofmove ina rectilinear path? toward --and from the spindle I6, althoughthe pivoted support isdesirable by reason of its Simplicity.

vLikewise, although the/spindle support 25, as "heredescribed, is designed-for actuationbyal treadle, itis obvious that a hand operated lever m'ight be-used for swinging -it -or that the supportmight be mechanically-actuatedvf'through a' Suitable motor and clutch device,.for example.

iMoreover, the kind or locking or retaining means employed to holdthe-last expandedis immaterial to the present invention,

While one desirable embodiment of the 4invention is herein illustrated by way of example,y it is `to be understood that the invention-is capable of v"embodiment in other vspeciiio constructions as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim: 1,'Apparatus for use in expanding a longiv tudinally expansible shoe last comprising independent forepart and heel 'portions each provided 'with a spindle socket, said apparatus comprising a pair of separable, normally parallel spindles, a sliding carriage on which one of the spindles is mounted, a pivotal support for the other spindle, means normally holding the spindles in parallel relation, a spring urging vthe carriage in a direction to move its spindle toward the pivotally supported spindle but permitting the carriage to move in the opposite direction from its nor-l mal position, stop meansfor limiting movement of the carriage by the spring, and means for `swinging the pivotally supported spindle thereby to expand a last mounted on the spindles.

2. Apparatus 'for use in expanding a longitudinally expansible shoe'last comprising independent'forepart and heel portions each provided with a spindle socket, means operative to lock the forepart and heel portions at a iixed distance apart when the last is fully expanded, said apparatus comprising a pair of separable, normally parallel spindles, means supporting one spindle to swing about a pivotal axis, means operative to swing the latter spindle thereby to separate the heel and orepart portions of a last mounted on the spindles until they are locked in the fully expanded position, and means so supporting the other spindle that as the pivoted spindle is thereafter returned to its normal position, the distance between the spindles may remain at the maximum, resultant from the last-expanded movement of the pivotal spindle. v

3. Apparatus for use in expanding a longitudinally expansible shoe last comprising independent forepart and heel portions each provided with a spindle socket, automatic means operative to lock said forepair and heel portions at a fixed distance apart when the last is fully expanded, said apparatus comprising a pair of separable, normally parallel spindles, means pivotally supporting one spindle to swing about a transverse axis, means to swing said pivoted spindle so as to incline its axis relatively to that of the other spindle, and to separate the forepart and heel portions of a last mounted on the spindles until they epesses '1 normalpos'ition, so 'that the:l distance between the fjspindleffaxes;` lwhen the 1 pivoted spindle regains itsV normal "position'lis -f substantially'A the same f as when the pivoted'spindle is at-its maximum angle "0f inclination.

lx-Apparatus'for'f use in expanding a'shoe last comprising separable vforep'art and heel portions -eachhaving a spindle A'socket and-autematic meansY for-locking said" last Vportions at a xed distance'apart when'the last is vfully-expanded,

vsa'id'faloparatus comprising a spindle whoseaxis ik"is always substantially vertical and a -spindle -fwhi'ch' isfpivot'ally supported so that its -axismay *beinclin`ed-to the vertical,.means normally holdiingV-saidspindles paralleland at suchl a distance apartithat-theyfmay be entered into the correrfatethe last parts until they are vlocked with-the "last-fullyfvexpand'ed; and means for supporting apartlth'at they' vmay'be entered into lthe corresponding sp-indle-sockets of the-fully contracted last', means fior swingingy the pivoted spindle to the vertical spindle `so-that itmay remain at the sameeffe'ctive distance from ithe pivoted spindle whi-le'thev latter is beingrestored'to normal posi- -tionv andwhile the'k expanded last remainsv upon the vlspindles -therebytoffacilitate removal of the last from the spindles.

5.-'Apparatus ror use in expanding'a'shoe last comprisingseparable' forep-arty and heel portions each having a Vvspindle socket-and automatic -means yfor locking said lastportions at -a xed distance apart when the -last yis fully expanded,

-saidf-a-pparatus comprisingy a spindle whose axis is'v Aalways!substantially vertical and a`- spindle -which is pivotally-'supported so that itsraxis may be inclined to the Verticalmeans normally holding-said spindles paralleland at such a distance separatethe last parts until they are locked lwith move the first spindle toWard the pivoted spindle, and a stop element for limiting such movement of the carriage, the carriage being movable in the opposite direction whereby the spindle mounted on the carriage may remain at the same effective distance from the pivoted spindle as the latter is restored to normal position While theexpanded last remains upon the spindles thereby to facilitate rem-oval of the last from the spindles.

6. Apparatus for use in expanding a shoe last comprising separable forepart and heel portions each having .a spindle socket and automatic means for` locking said last portions at a xed distance apart when` the last is fully expanded, said apparatus comprising a spindle whose axis is always substantially vertical and a spindle which is pivotally supported so that its' axis may be inclined to the Vertical, means normally holding said spindles parallel and at such a distance apart that they may be entered into the corresponding spindle sockets of the fully contracted last, means for swinging the pivoted spindle to separate the last parts until they are locked with the last fully expanded, a horizontally slidable carriage on whose forward portion the rst spindle is fixed, the carriage having a longitudinal slot in which the pivoted spindle may freely move, a spring urging the carriage rearwardly, an adjustable stop limiting such rearward movement Vof the carriage and determining the normal position of the rst spindle, the carriage being movableforwardly from its normal position in opposition to said spring whereby while the last remains locked in expanded position, the pivoted spindle may be restored to normal position before removal of the last from the spindles.

7. Apparatus for use in expanding a shoe last comprising separable forepart and heel portions each having a spindle socket and means for locking said last parts at a fixed distance apart when the last is fully expanded, said apparatus comprising a hollow base having a guideway for a horizontally slidable carriage, a spring urging the cariage rearwardly, an adjustable stop limiting rearward movement of the carriage and determining its normal position, the carriage being movable forwardly from its normal position in opposition to said spring, a spindle xed to the forward part of the carriage, the carriage having an elongate slot, a second spindle supported t swing about a pivotal axis transverse to the path of travel of the carriage and located within the base and below the carriage, the pivoted spindle projecting up through the slot in the carriage, means normally holding the pivoted spindle with its axis parallel to that of the carriage supported spindle and means, including mechanism housed within the base, for swinging the pivoted spindle so as to move its upper end rearwardly and away from the carriage-supported spindle, thereby to separate the forepart and heel portions of a last mounted on the spindles until the last is fully expanded and locked.

8. Apparatus for use in expanding a shoe last comprising separable forepart and heel portions each having a spindle socket and means for locking said last portions at a xed distance apart when the last is fully expanded, said apparatus comprising a hollow base having a guideway having a horizontally slidable carriage, a spring urging the carriage rearwardly, a stop limiting rearward movement of the carriage and determining its normal position, the carriage being movable,

forwardly from normal position in opposition to the spring, a spindle fixed to the carriage, a second` spindle rearward of the carriage-supported spindle, supported to move rearwardly relatively to the carriage, means urging the second spindle in a forward direction, means limiting forward movement of the second spindle whereby when the spindles vare in normal position they are substantially parallel and spaced to permit their entry into the corresponding sockets of the last members, and means operative to move the second spindle rearwardly relatively to the carriagesupported spindle thereby to separate the forepart and heel portions of the last mounted on the spindles until the last is fully expanded.

9. Apparatus for use in expanding a longitudinally expansible shoe last comprising independforepart and heel portions each provided with a spindle socket, said apparatus comprising a pair of separable, normally parallel spindles, a sliding carriage on which one of the spindles is mounted, a pivotal support for the other spindle, means normally holding the spindles in parallel relation, a spring urging the carriage in a direction to move its spindle toward the pivotally supported spindle but permitting the carriage to move in the opposite direction from its normal position, stop means for limiting movement of the carriage by the spring, means including a lever and a treadle rod for swinging the pivotally supported spindle thereby to expand the last mounted on the spindle and means to change the effective length of said lever to modify the mechanical advantage transmitted from the treadle through the lever to the pivotally supported spindle.

JACOB S. KAMBORIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 509,497 Sumner Nov. 28, 1893 2,419,944 Clausing May 6, 1947 FOREGN PATENTS Number Country Date 363.885 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1931 

